Top News:
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees ‘not getting’ Japanese pitching star Yu Darvish — NEW YORK — If Japanese pitching sensation Yu Darvish indeed throws his first major league pitch next season, it will not be in a Yankees uniform. — The Yankees are “not getting him,” a person with knowledge of the situation said today …
Discussion:
NoMaas.org, Bluebird Banter, HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues, MLB Rumors and It's About The Money
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Mark Zwolinski / Toronto Star:
Yu Darvish sweepstakes: Blue Jays no sure bet to win — Conflicting messages and reports all day Monday have clouded the Yu Darvish sweepstakes. — Tweets from highly-respected baseball analysts south of the border as well as from Darvish followers in his native Japan have thrown a curve …
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Filling in the blanks for MLB's neediest teams — Sometime Monday night, Nippon Professional Baseball is expected to reveal the official winner of the Yu Darvish sweepstakes. Most of the industry believes the Toronto Blue Jays will win the right to negotiate with the right-hander …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Jays hope to score in Darvish bidding war — Albert Pujols is an Angel. The marketing potential of a superstar and the team's new regional television rights deal with FOX are two of the biggest reasons why. — Now consider the power of a single national franchise, beamed coast …
Discussion:
MLB.com, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors, Baseball America and Bluebird Banter
Fox Sports:
Source: Diamondbacks, Kubel reach deal — The Diamondbacks, continuing their impressive off-season, have reached agreement with free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel on a two-year, $15 million contract, according to a major-league source. — The deal, which is pending a physical, also includes an option for 2014, the source said.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Diamondbacks To Sign Jason Kubel — The Diamondbacks have signed outfielder Jason Kubel, tweets Tom Krasovic. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports confirms the agreement, which is for two years with an option. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the deal is worth $15MM. Kubel is represented by Wasserman Media Group.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Baseball Nation
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Endy heading to Baltimore with one-year deal — Speedy free agent expected to be O's top reserve outfielder — BALTIMORE — The Orioles crossed an item off their offseason shopping list, bolstering their outfield depth by agreeing to terms with veteran Endy Chavez for one year, pending a physical.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
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Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Orioles Agree To Sign Endy Chavez
Orioles Agree To Sign Endy Chavez
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and Camden Chat
Eric Schmoldt / Sports Radio Interviews:
BALCO founder Victor Conte: Ryan Braun is Dead in the Water — All eyes are still on Major League Baseball and National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun, who has tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone. Braun is appealing the test and we really haven't heard anything …
Discussion:
Deadspin
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Gio Gonzalez to Mets unlikely — Although the Mets recently discussed the possibility of acquiring Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez (as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported Thursday), they are unlikely to pursue the pitcher, according to two major league officials familiar with the Mets' thinking.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Mets Today, MetsBlog.com and River Avenue Blues
Fox Sports:
Why the Angels should trade Abreu — Even before the Angels signed Albert Pujols, Bobby Abreu looked like their odd man out. — Now, with Kendrys Morales seemingly on the verge of a comeback, the Angels should consider trading Abreu rather than paying him $9 million to be a part-time DH.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
The Cooperstown case for Jeff Bagwell — It's December, so for me that means its Hall of Fame month. Early next month, Cooperstown announces the results of the annual BBWAA election. With that in mind, last month I wrote a piece for THT, “The Cooperstown case for Tim Raines.”
Discussion:
HardballTalk and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Enrique Rojas / MLB:
Rep: Cespedes could gain residency this week — ORLANDO — Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes could be granted residency in the Dominican Republic this week, a mandatory requirement to be declared a free agent by the commissioner's office. — “We'll hear about it tomorrow [Tuesday].
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Paul Hagen / MLB.com:
GMs eye trade route for starting pitching help — Gio, Jurrjens, Pineda among starters that could be on block — So you're a general manager, and you went into the offseason hoping to improve your rotation. But C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle and Yu Darvish proved to be too pricey, and you're not thrilled with the remaining free agents.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Revamped AL teams major concern for Sox — With the likelihood the expanded playoff format won't go into effect until 2013, the Red Sox must be careful not to go a third year without a postseason berth. — Not only must they worry about the Yankees and Rays in their division, there are the rising Blue Jays as well.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Federal Baseball and Baseball Nation
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Sources: Red Sox called on Kansas City closer Joakim Soria
Sources: Red Sox called on Kansas City closer Joakim Soria
Discussion:
Over the Monster, joy of sox, FenwayNation, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Sources: Cards still interested in Beltran
Sources: Cards still interested in Beltran
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and MetsBlog.com
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Crew reportedly wins negotiating rights for Aoki — The Brewers reportedly submitted a winning $2.5 million bid to negotiate with Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki, a three-time Central League batting champion with the Yakult Swallows. — According to a tweet by Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Brewers Win Rights To Norichika Aoki
Brewers Win Rights To Norichika Aoki
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, Al's Ramblings and Yahoo! Sports